Seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer has said he's the one excited to be facing British underdog Marcus Willis in arguably the biggest David v Goliath match even seen at SW19.

Federer, 34, was far from his vintage best in breaking grasscourt novice Guido Pella just once in two hours on Centre Court but knows his second round showdown with world No772 Willis is going to capture the public imagination on Wednesday.

'I think it is one of the best stories in our sport. I followed his progress even before I saw he was in my section,' said Federer, who missed the French Open with knee and back injuries.

Roger Federer celebrates his first round victory over French grasscourt novice Guido Pella with a fist pump

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'This is the kind of story we need in our sport. I am very excited to be playing him actually.

'I saw his first round match. He plays well otherwise he wouldn't be where he is. He is a little bit more old school, people will know about this match and naturally people are going to support him and rightly so. It's really cool.'

Federer has won a record 17 Grand Slams and a victory for Willis will eclipse even Iceland v England for shock value.

Federer shakes the hand of Pella, who found it very tough going in front of a capacity crowd and on the grass

However, the Swiss third seed isn't sure how his body is going to fare over the fortnight having ended a run of 65 Grand Slams in a row. 'Nobody knows – not even me,' he said.

In the circumstances, he was happy enough with his progress over world no51 Pella even though it clearly wasn't the vintage Federer of old.

The first two sets both went to tierbreaks with nobody able to overturn serve. On both occasions, Federer's competitive instinct won the day, firstly by seven points to five, and then seven points to three.

Federer moved effortlessly but admitted afterwards that he still doesn't know how fit he really is

His playing style, something Centre Court crowds have got used to, delighted fans again as he turned on the style

'I did a good job,' he said. 'I worked hard to be here and it was different walking onto court. I didn't know how fast I was going to be. Time heals a lot of issues and it gives me confidene. I haven't played five sets since my knee operation and every day I get away from the back problems I had in Madrid and Rome.'

Some of Federer's backhands still managed to make his centre court fans gasp in amazement. But there were also concerns about his 51% first serving in the opening set, and his failure to capitalise on four break points in one game at the start of the second.

Federer finally got his elusive break in the eighth game of the third set and saw the match out 6-3.

Federer has lost the last two Wimbledon finals to Novak Djokovic and is scheduled to meet the Serbian No1 in the semi-finals again this year.